SWEDEN WANTS MORE INFORMATION ON CLUSTER GROUPS

C O N F I D E N T I A L STOCKHOLM 000151 SIPDIS SIPDIS AF/E FOR NICOLE GAREY E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/25/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV EAID SO SW SUBJECT: SWEDEN WANTS MORE INFORMATION ON CLUSTER GROUPS REF: STATE 16168 Classified By: CDA ROBERT HILTON FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) & (D). ¶1. (C) On February 25 poloff delivered reftel demarche to Swedish Ambassador and Special Envoy of the African Division, Marika Fahlen. Ambassador Fahlen received the same non-paper in Washington last week and gave poloff a prepared, detailed response (available from the Sweden Desk officer, Martin McDowell). Fahlen raised issue with the Cluster Group (CG) proposals, including difficulties with limiting participation to three to five countries and selecting the CG participants; and the lack of detail of each CG proposal. Additionally, Fahlen expressed concern over too many actors, e.g. observers, being involved in the process and the lack of a unified voice to disseminate the International Contact Group's (ICG) position. ¶2. (C) Sweden does not oppose the proposed CGs in principle, but desires greater details and further consensus-building among ICG's members. Fahlen proposed a meeting of the U.S., Sweden, Norway, Italy, the UK, SRSG and the European Commission around May 10 to take advantage of the SRSG's visit to the UN in New York on May 10. Please advise initial AF response to this proposal so that post can respond to Ambassador Fahlen. HILTON